Vacuum cleaner with water filtration

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, in which circulates a flow of drawn-in air loaded with particles, between an inlet nozzle and an aperture communicating with a suction chamber. The vacuum cleaner includes a water-air separator intercalated between an upstream conduit and suction device, capable of orienting the gas phase into the suction chamber, and the particles into a tank. The invention relates to a heating body incorporated in the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner also includes a filament embedded in ceramic materials, and a spray chamber formed by a helical space between two bodies or casings nested into each other, at least one of the bodies or casings being a ceramic body incorporating, embedded, a metallic filament.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, in which flows, in a casing, a drawn-in air flow loaded with particles or/and with liquid, between an inlet nozzle and an aperture communicating with a suction chamber.

The invention also relates to a heating body designed capable of being incorporated into a household or cleaning appliance or into such a vacuum cleaner.

The invention relates to the suction of mixed flows comprised of air, water, and suspended particles. It is related in particular to the field of the electric household or/and cleaning appliances, in particular of the vapor vacuum cleaners or the window-cleaning appliances, or the like.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

The vacuum cleaners with water filtering include a suction device that carries an air flow, loaded with particles as well as liquid, through a liquid contained in a tank, where the filtering of the particles occurs through bubbling. The air is evacuated after passing, in some cases, through a water-air separating system. In these appliances, the filtering occurs at the bottom, these appliances are designed only for use in vertical position of the tank, which makes their use impossible for portable appliances.

Appliances emitting vapor for the cleaning draw in, in return, particles and water proceeding from the condensation of vapor. It is necessary to separate the liquid before sending clean air to the environment, without water and particles. The water droplets must be separated from the air flow and eliminated before its passing into the suction module and before the rejection to the environment.

WO 0154798 discloses a vacuum cleaner with water filtering with traditional filters, such as water-tight membranes made of plastic or polymer foams. These devices are not satisfactory, since a clogging of the pores by contaminated water or non-filtered fine particles always occurs quickly. Therefore, a loss of power occurs and the work must be interrupted in order to clean or replace the filter. Indeed, no static filter system is capable of durably stop the passing through of water, because of the necessary permeability for the passing through of air. The prior art tried to solve these problems of water passing beyond the filter as well as of clogging of the filter, by increasing the internal volume of the appliance, which is prejudicial to its ease of handling, or also by highly reducing the flow rate of the air, which is prejudicial to its efficient suction, since these techniques are aimed at removing the contaminated water from the filter. The maintenance of the filters, their removal, their cleaning, their periodical exchange give rise to hygiene problems, difficult cleaning, and problems of cost.

US01/0015132 discloses a conical rotary separator with vertical blades, which, when used alone, has drawbacks: a limited flow rate of air, because of the proximity of the blades necessary for a good effectiveness, but which limits the surface for the passing through of air, thus prejudicial to the performance. Or a bulky tank, or also a poor dynamic water-air stirring reducing the quality of the filtering, or finally the need for additional filters. On the same principle, rotors with slits or blades are known. In a first variant, such a rotor is applied against a turbine, and frictions occur at the level of the tightening means between groove and tongue, which are absolutely necessary in order to impede particles from penetrating into the area of the suction turbine, which requires a periodical maintenance. In a second, low-cost variant, the separator is of one single piece with the turbine, and generally fixed to the metallic inlet of the latter by a shaft of an oversized length, in the extension of the drive of the turbine and limiting the entering of air into the latter.

One has tried to solve the problem of obstruction to the passing through of air, by extending a first separator directly fixed to the inlet of a turbine by molding or the like, by adding additional separator modules on the shaft, which give rise to important problems of unbalance because of the large length, which is prejudicial because of the vibrations. In addition, in the case of a small-size appliance, the large length makes the appliance very bulky and unhandy.

An accumulation of turbines can increase the negative pressure necessary for the passing through of the air, however without improving the air flow sought for, this technique automatically results into an extra cost for electric power consumption and an over-motorization. It is also known to increase the diameter of the separator, thus providing a larger total surface of slits and fins, but requiring the use of a tightness support independent from the turbine, of the type with grooves and tongues evoked above. Finally, the separation of the motorization of the turbine and that of the separator with fins permits to act on the speeds of rotation. In order to compensate for these drawbacks, the aspiration device must then generally be either over-motorized or bi-motorized, thus expensive and cumbersome, or consolidated by a stronger shaft, or also by an oversized aggregate. Otherwise, the appliance is quickly deteriorated because of the vibrations, or a notable lack of negative pressure.

Such vacuum cleaners with water filtering are therefore not fully satisfactory.

GB 2 382 042 discloses a water-air separator, with a rotary brush, which constitutes a barrier for the air flow loaded with particles, and through which is forced the passing through of the air flow. The elements in suspension in the air are fixed by capillarity, namely the water guided along the brush bristles under the action of the centrifugal force, and ejected towards a peripheral wall, at a distance from the brush, then towards collecting and evacuating areas. High pressure losses of the air flow in baffle plates require to over-motorize the suction device, and therefore result into a raise of the noise level. The effectiveness is imperfect, because of an air-flow outlet that is either radial or annular and axial and far away from the axis of rotation. The connection in series of several brushes, even of traditional filtering means with porous materials, shows that the arrangement with one single brush is not sufficient, in this case, to fully solve the problem set forth, which is to fully separate the water from the air flow when passing through the separator. In addition, such a combination of several separating means mounted in series unavoidably leads to a high increase in volume and weight, which makes more difficult an application in the field of the portable electric household appliances, where performance, compactness and lightness are sought.

Patent application FR 06 02951 of the applicant permits to substantially improve the reliability, with a water-air separator for vacuum cleaner, between a water tank and an air-suction conduit connected by a communication aperture formed by a suction cone, including a chamber in which is mounted movably in rotation about an axis an air-pervious filtering means designed capable of transporting the collected water at its periphery by centrifugation, where the chamber includes a resting rim perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the filtering means, which constitutes closing means in cooperation with this resting rim.

EP 1 112 712 A1 and EP 1048260 A2 disclose means for filtering with water, where an air flow takes along the water while creating a turbulent mixture, difficult to be re-concentrated, taking along a quantity of water droplets difficult to be retained in a large air flow, larger than 30 dm3/second for example in a sledge-type appliance. The need for an additional filter or grid imposes a periodical and tedious maintenance. These techniques do generally not permit to exceed 25 dm3/s, at most 30 dm3/s for a sledge-type vacuum cleaner. The negative pressure is independent from this result, since it has an influence only on the capacity to move the particles. These known techniques differ from each other only by the positioning of the baffle plates and supply conduits, they all require large-size tanks. The complexity of the elements having an influence on the filtering only permits to position the tank in one single position with little variability.

It is particularly difficult to carry out a good filtering, first of all of the dust by the water, then to separate this laden water from the air flow, the whole in a limited volume, and in addition in different positions in space. To these filtering difficulties has to be added the variability of the air flow due to the obstructions of air inlet on the accessories, namely during their contact with the parts to be cleaned. Indeed, a small flow is prejudicial to a good filtering of the dry particles, more specifically by the liquid filtering element, which, in order to be efficient, has to be accompanied by a dynamic, homogeneous and regular mixing. The dry particles not entrapped by the liquid then obstruct an eventual additional filter, and cancel the permanent air flow effect specific to this type of filtering, or, even worse, are rejected into the ambient air.

The vapor production in the field of the electric household and in particular of the cleaning appliances, namely in the appliances generating a heating of the water in order to produce hot water or vapor, whether instantaneous or by a boiler, always requires the presence of an electrical grounding safety, brought into the power cord, due to the simultaneous presence of metallic bodies, water, and electricity. This safety is not absolutely necessary in a simple vacuum cleaner because of the general use of class 2 electric motors. Patent application FR 06 10563 of the applicant already permits to eliminate this safety, thanks to an insulating recovering of the metallic parts, permitting their classification as type 2. The drawbacks of a grounding lead are the higher cost of the cable, and the impossibility of using a namely automatic cable reel of an identical cable length, while the market requires in contrast increasing cable lengths. The invention proposes to further improve the size-power ratio, the lightness, the cost and the simplicity of manufacture of the vapor-generating means.

In order to further improve these various devices, and to meet the needs of the market of the portable appliances, in particular for vapor vacuum cleaners, it is important to provide solutions compatible with a small mass, from 1.5 kg to 4 kg for a manual use, and a small size. For a given size and a same air flow, the appliance should provide high air speed performances in the separator as well as in the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is aimed at solving these main difficulties by providing a vacuum cleaner with water filtering, in which the path of the drawn-in flow is optimized in order to improve the separation of the particles upstream of the suction. In a preferred version, the invention includes a water-air separator with an improved efficiency, adaptable onto any type of vacuum cleaner with water filtering and suction appliance capable of drawing in liquid. In a finished version, the invention integrates a vapor generator permitting to omit the safety earthing or grounding lead, which permits to use a cable reel, even for an appliance with a very small volume and mass, in particular with a mass of less than 2 kg.

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, in which circulates, in a casing, an aspirated air flow loaded with particles or/and with liquid, between an inlet nozzle and an aperture communicating with a suction chamber, wherein it includes at least a water-air separator designed capable of being motorized and intercalated between an upstream conduit and suction means and designed capable of orienting, on the one hand, the gas phase into said suction chamber and, on the other hand, the liquid phase and the particles into at least one tank in which said liquid phase is kept.

According to a feature of the invention, said vacuum cleaner includes, for the water filtering of said flow, a bubbling tank in which said drawn-in flow circulates, between said inlet nozzle and said communication aperture at the level of an upstream conduit, upstream of suction means including a turbine, which bubbling tank includes at least one peripheral stream with a substantially annular shape designed capable of performing a centrifugation of said flow.

According to a feature of the invention, said peripheral stream guides said flow towards an area in which partitions separated from each other create a venture effect.

The invention also relates to a heating body designed capable of being incorporated into an electric household or cleaning appliance, or into such a vacuum cleaner, wherein it includes at least one metal filament embedded in one or several elements made exclusively of ceramic-based materials, and it includes at least one spray chamber, which is formed of a helical space or the like between two bodies or cases nested into each other, at least one of these nested bodies or cases being a ceramic body incorporating, embedded, such a metal filament.

The invention also relates to a smoothing iron including at least one heating body 201 for generating vapor or/and heating the sole.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of the non-restrictive embodiments of the invention, with reference to the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal cross-sectional view of a basic version of a bubbling a vacuum cleaner with water filtering according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal cross-sectional view of a preferred version of this tank.

FIG. 3 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal cross-sectional view of this tank in a nose-up position of the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal cross-sectional view of this tank in a nose-down position of the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 5 is a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of a water-air separator, which a vacuum cleaner according to the invention is provided with, in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial detailed schematic view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a pre-separator usable with the separator of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic and perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with water filtering according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal cross-sectional view of an appliance according to FIG. 8, without bubbling tank, and including a water-air separator according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a schematic, perspective and partially non-streamlined view of a version of the vacuum cleaner with air-water separator and without bubbling tank.

FIG. 11 is a schematic, perspective and partially non-streamlined view of a preferred version of the vacuum cleaner with air-water separator and with a bubbling tank in the basic version of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing the cooling air path in the vacuum cleaner, in an embodiment with evacuation of the drawn-in air at the front of a ventilation turbine, and laterally at each side of the latter.

FIG. 13 is a schematic and perspective view of the air-water separator of FIG. 6 with side air outlets.

FIG. 14 is a schematic, partial and cross-sectional view of vapor-generating means an electric household appliance, namely a vacuum cleaner with water filtering according to the invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic and perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with water filtering with a lower cable reel.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view from above of a vacuum cleaner with water filtering with a cable reel incorporated between the central body and a side tank.

FIG. 17 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal cross-sectional view of a variant of a bubbling tank with float.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing the cooling air path in the vacuum cleaner in a so-called rear by-pass variant with evacuation of the drawn-in air at the upper portion of the appliance and peripherally at the rear of the ventilation turbine, by means of a shell surrounding the motor and separating the two air flows.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 14, representing a flat resistor.

FIG. 20 is a schematic, partially open and perspective view of a version in rear peripheral by-pass of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention.

FIG. 21 is a detailed view according to a longitudinal cross-section of an ogival separator according to FIG. 5 or 6.

FIG. 22 is a schematic, longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 14, of another heating body according to the invention.

FIG. 23 is a schematic, longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 22 of yet another heating body according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention relates to the separation of fluids contained in gases, in particular in the field of the electrical household appliances, namely of the vacuum cleaners with liquids, with water filtering, and the cleaning appliances with vapor, referred to as vapor vacuum cleaners, and the like.

The invention is applicable to any gas and to any liquid. In the further description reference is made in particular to a particular application in which the gas is air, and the liquid is water.

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner 100 in which circulates, in a casing, a drawn-in air flow loaded with particles or/and liquid, between an inlet nozzle 3 and an aperture for communicating with a suction chamber 60.

According to the invention, it includes at least one water-air separator 1, designed capable of being motorized and intercalated between the upstream conduit 2 and the suction means, and designed capable of orienting, on the one hand, the gas phase into the suction chamber 60 and, on the other hand, the liquid phase and the particles into at least one tank in which this liquid phase is kept.

In a preferred embodiment, this vacuum cleaner 100 is with water filtering, and includes a bubbling tank 22 in which circulates a drawn-in air flow loaded with particles or/and liquid, between an inlet nozzle 3 and an aperture 119 for communicating with a suction chamber 60, at the level of an upstream conduit 2, upstream of the suction means, namely in the form of a turbine 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the invention can be used manually, or on a brush-type mobile support, or portable. In a preferred application as shown in the figures, it is a portable hand-operated appliance.

According to the invention, the bubbling tank 22 includes at least a peripheral stream 103, at least partially, with a substantially annular shape designed capable of performing a centrifugation of said flow before its entering into baffle plates. This stream 103 can develop according to any opening angle, even larger than one turn.

Preferably, as can be seen in FIG. 1 or 2 or 17, the bubbling tank 22 is delimited by at least one radiated external partition 101, with a constant or evolving curvature without any hindrance nor sudden change of concavity, which defines, with a first internal partition 106 that forms a jet deflector, a circulation stream 103 for the entering flow of air loaded with liquid or/and particles. In a particular embodiment, as visible in the figures, this tank 22 has a substantially flat shape, and can namely include, between the external partition 101 and the first internal partition 106, one or several side plates tightly connected through gluing, welding, molding or the like. The tank 22 can namely be flanked by a first substantially flat side plate, and by a second side plate having the shape of a spherical cap or the like. The shape of the side plates is dictated by the capacity of the tanks or/and accessories they contain, by the ergonomic requirements of the appliance. In the case of a very compact appliance, a spherical or polyhedric shape with substantially equal, cubic facets or the like, provides the optimum internal volume for the smallest size, hence also the smallest weight.

The stream 103 preferably develops according to a substantially circular plane, or the like, so as to create the conditions, under the action of the suction transmitted by the aperture 119, of a swirl rejecting the flow, by centrifugation resulting into grouping namely liquid or solid elements, in the vicinity of the external partition 101. The flows comprising liquid or dry particles are represented by plain arrows, the flows of purified air are represented by dotted arrows.

In the simplest version, as visible in FIG. 1, the flow circulates, inside the bubbling tank 22, alongside the external partition 101. A baffle plate with a bend at the level of an internal partition 113 brings down the liquid phase and tends to cause it to fall into a lower peripheral area 22A of the tank 22, varying according to the inclination of the appliance, forming a liquid receptacle. The air is in turn drawn in by the aperture 119, where it arrives after having by-passed a partition 116 forming a baffle plate, after passing in a chamber 108. This simplified version does not permit to filter the dry dust in all positions in space, since the filtering liquid element must be close to an outlet 150. It is nevertheless a very inexpensive and well-suited version for a window-cleaner.

In a preferred version, as visible in FIG. 2, the stream 103 performs a centrifugation of the flow before its entering into baffle plates at the level of which partitions 106 and 107, separated from each other, create a venturi effect.

The end 105 of the first internal partition 106 farthest away from the inlet nozzle 3 is separated from the external partition 101 by a small distance d1, so as to accelerate the speed of the flow. The path of the flow downstream of the stream 103 continues in a chamber 111, limited on the outer side by a partition 113, preferably extended by a partition 114, along which flows the liquid phase of the flow, after running along the external partition 101.

A second internal partition 107, farther away from the external partition 101 than the first internal partition 106, and arranged substantially parallel to the latter on the side of an end 105 the latter includes, defines a first receptacle 115 for the collected liquid. Preferably, the first 106 and second 107 internal partitions are substantially parallel to the external partition 101, at least in the vicinity of the end 105. The shape of the second internal partition 107 is such that the eventual liquid in excess flows on the internal wall 106A of the first internal partition 106, which internal wall 106A defines a second receptacle 109 for the collected liquid. In particular, the first partition 106 and the second partition 107 are curved, and their centers of curvature are located on the same side of the second partition 107, towards the inside of the bubbling tank 22, i.e. moving away from the external partition 101. Preferably, as visible in FIG. 2, the average radius of curvature of the first partition 106 is larger than that of the second partition 107.

This second internal partition 107 includes an end 108 located more downstream of the flow than the end 105 of the first internal partition 106, and which is located at a distance d2 from the outer wall 101, which is larger than the distance d1. The conditions are thus present for creating a venturi effect, and for forcing the call for liquid into an area of turbulence 110 in the form of a jet projected against or towards the partition 113, in the direction from upstream to downstream of the flow, which is useful namely when the vacuum cleaner 100 is in such an extreme angular position that the water is no longer directly into contact with the flow of particles and can no longer momentarily act as a filter.

This venturi solution is applicable in a variant visible in FIG. 17, as well as in other configurations requiring a mixture of air and water, to sledge- or brush-type vacuum cleaners, and namely including flat perpendicular or horizontal tank partitions. All the known venturi effect systems can be used: with vortex, diaphragm, nozzle, convergent inlet or divergent outlet, or also propelling.

One understands that the substantially circular shape of the tank 22 and the stream 103 permit to handle the appliance 100 in different positions, in particular when the user causes it to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the various circulation flows in the various streams and baffle plates the tank 100 includes, namely normal to the plane of the figure in the example of FIG. 2. Therefore, the particular arrangement of the second internal partition 107 and the internal wall 106A of the first internal partition 106 is particularly advantageous, because any overflow of the liquid gathered in the first receptacle 115 contributes either to supplying the second receptacle 109 or to lead the excess liquid into the area of turbulence 110, which allows to bring this liquid, after running over the partitions 113 and 114, into the first receptacle 115.

The second receptacle 109 tends, in turn, to be permanently emptied by the venturi effect between the ends 105 and 108 and to supply the area of turbulence 110 and therefore to fill the first receptacle 115. Advantageously, a discharge plug 43 is arranged at the level of this first receptacle 115.

Downstream in the direction of circulation of the flow, the partition 114 is extended by a partition 116 forming a baffle plate and impeding the passing through of liquid, while the airflow passes along this partition 116 into a chamber 117, then, in the opposite direction, along another partition or the other face 116A of the partition 116, into a chamber 118, before its evacuation through the aperture 119. This air flow, fully or partially emptied from its impurities according to the configuration of the appliance, and represented by dotted arrows in FIG. 2, is then drawn in to the suction chamber and, in a preferred version, through a separator 1 in order to take away the residual liquids or/and particles.

FIG. 17 shows another variant, which has a reversed, downward direction of arrival of air coming out of an aperture 151, and provided with a float 152 acting as overflow. A partition 153 extends the partition 106 and impedes any passing through of purified air, which has to pass through the chamber 108 and then pass over a curved partition 154. The latter offers the advantage of retaining the contaminated water in case the appliance is placed horizontally. This complementarity thus provides the possibility of being able to work in all positions in space.

Such a baffle plate in the form of a spire, which can make several turns, and forming a real spiral starting from the periphery of the tank, guarantees a constant and efficient separation irrespective of the air flow, in all positions in space. In the device of FIG. 17, the separation is independent from the gas volume flow, which varies according to the accessories used, the positioning and the surface to be cleaned. These spires wind up either horizontally or vertically, which is better suited for the upright tanks that are usual on sledge-type vacuum cleaners.

This system has, through its design with a curved shape opposite to angular partitions, the particularity that they do not reduce the air flow-rate. Within the framework of vertically superimposed spires, it is particularly suited for separating liquids or dry particles and more efficient than a cyclonic system, which is much less performing in the event the speed of the drawn-in flow drops.

FIG. 3 shows a working position in which the vacuum cleaner 100 is nose-up, with the inlet nozzle 3 turned upwardly. In this configuration, all the liquid is brought back to the receptacle 115, and the stream 103 carrying particles in the air could not be filtered by liquid if the venturi effect would not be present at the level of the end 105, which, thanks to the jet 110, permits to mix the dry particles and the liquid for their filtering.

FIG. 4 shows a working position in which the vacuum cleaner 100 is nose-down, with the inlet nozzle 3 turned downwardly. In this configuration, the liquid is brought back to the level of the receptacles 115 and 109, as well as to the end 104 of the stream 103, and is thus always in contact with the drawn-in dry particles.

Obviously, the partitions internal to the tank 22 adopt shapes and dimensions varying according to the type of appliance 100, depending on the positions of the filling, draining, communication apertures, and the desired levels of filling, as well as on the inclinations admissible for the appliance, whether it is a brush, a manual or portable appliance. In particular, the partition 154 does not reach the two walls of the tank, and thus permits to use the appliance laying on a side.

In the simplest version of the vacuum cleaner 100, the aperture 119 directly communicates with a suction chamber 60, and the drawn-in air is rejected to the environment at the level of a downstream conduit 4, without passing through the tank 22. The water is removed from the air by a separator 20. In the case of FIG. 10, the water flows through the passage 119 in order to flow into the tank 22. In the case of FIG. 11, the passage 119 permits the air to return to the separator 20, and the residual water retained by the latter to flow to the tank 22, in which the largest portion is retained.

In a preferred version, for a maximum efficiency, the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the invention includes a liquid-gas separator 1 arranged in a particular way. This separator 1 includes means for conveying the gas flow between an upstream conduit 2 and a downstream conduit 4 aimed at evacuating the purified gas without any liquid and any impurity. At the level of the upstream conduit 2 arrives, under the action of suction means or a pressurization, either a flow of gas loaded with liquid proceeding directly from the inlet nozzle 3 or a flow of gas loaded with particles and/or liquid from which a large portion of its particles and its liquid phase has already been removed on its path through the bubbling tank 22. These upstream 2 and downstream conduits 4 are connected by a communication aperture 13. The separator 1 includes, mounted movable in rotation about an axis of rotation 8 inside the upstream conduit 2, at least one gas-pervious filtering means 19 designed capable of conveying to its periphery, by centrifugation, the collected liquid.

The separation between water and air occurs when the gas flow meets a filtering means 19, which is interposed on the passage of the flow inside the chamber or the channel formed by conveying means, and which closes the communication aperture 13, and which is mounted, fixed or preferably movable in rotation, inside either upstream 2 or downstream 4 conduit, preferably the upstream conduit 2. Preferably, the filtering means 19 is subjected to a rotary motion about an axis of rotation 8, which is preferably that of a turbine 10 generating the negative pressure and which is driven by motorization means 7, in particular electric means. It can also be driven by independent motorization means, or also by a turbine driven by the flow passing through the separator 1. In a particular version, the separator 1 includes means for adjusting its speed of rotation depending on the pressure difference between the upstream 2 and downstream 4 conduits, or/and on the gas flow-rate in the separator 1.

According to the invention, the filtering means 19 consists of an ogival separator 20, provided with fins or/and radial brushes, fixed to a turbine 10 movable in rotation downstream of the communication aperture 13, and which it communicates with through the latter.

In the case of a household vacuum cleaner 100, namely connected to vapor-projection means for cleaning, the air flow is loaded with water droplets. This flow is driven, under the action of the negative pressure created by at least one turbine 10, towards the ogival separator 20, which eliminates these droplets and the eventual wetted particles, which would be taken along in the mist formed upstream during the bubbling in the bubbling tank 22.

The collection of the liquid occurs through a dam effect obtained by the rotation of the filtering means 19, which is pervious to gas, about its axis of rotation 8, in combination with the capillarity along this filtering means, which permits to radially guide to its periphery, by centrifugation, droplets of liquid or/and particles present in the drawn-in flow. A high speed of rotation of the filtering means 19 permits to prevent the direct passing of the liquid flow through the filtering means through its gaps. The speed of rotation of the separator, the number of fins as well as their shape, the width of the gaps between the fins are adaptable depending on the configuration of the appliance and the performances looked for.

The filtering means 19 is maintained radially away from the walls of the upstream conduit 2, so as to permit the projection of the droplets of liquid or water onto the wall of the latter under the action of its rotation. A portable appliance as visible in FIG. 9 advantageously includes, in a chamber at the level of the upstream conduit 2, a water collection area 21 delimited by a casing deflector 11 and communicating through the aperture 119 with the bubbling tank 22. The casing deflector 11 forms a partition between the upstream conduit 2 and the downstream conduit 4, and includes an axial opening with a diameter smaller than the largest diameter of the ogival separator and which is preferably unique, so as to avoid any parasitic gas flow. The collection area 21 is substantially annular, around the periphery of the filtering means 19, is large enough to avoid forming a whirl, and permits the free flowing of the droplets along the wall, without any local accumulation that would be prejudicial to a proper operation of the separator 1.

The casing deflector 11 permits to maintain the appliance in multiple positions, while guaranteeing its operation, even when the appliance is turned upside down, which is particularly advantageous for a portable appliance. Preferably, its profile has the shape of a bell, substantially parallel to that of a turbine baffle plate 12 mounted on the front face of a turbine 10 and which includes the axial communication aperture 13 between the upstream conduit 2 and the downstream conduit 4, and the backlash between them is of a few millimeters, namely between 1 and 3 mm. In the preferred case of use of an ogival separator 20, the latter is preferably fixed to such a turbine baffle plate 12, over the largest possible diameter, by gluing, welding, or the like, at junction points 20B. When the turbine 10 does not include any baffle plate 11, the ogival separator 20 can also be mounted directly on the latter. Fixing the ogival separator 20 directly to the upstream face of the turbine 10, and over the largest possible diameter, permits to benefit from a large-diameter passage, which results into a higher axial speed of the air and, hence, a more efficient separation, and a center de of gravity of the separator as close as possible to its driving source.

Preferably, the ogival separator 20 has its largest diameter in the vicinity of the aperture 13, from which it projects largely, and it becomes narrower as it goes away from the aperture at 13, namely as visible in FIGS. 5 and 9. This ogival separator 20 can have a relatively small length, compared to its diameter, namely smaller or equal to once the latter, so as to eliminate any problem of unbalance. Though, at the limit, the ogival separator 20 can have a conical or truncated shape, in a preferred version, the election of a curved ogival shape has the advantage of not presenting a flat front to the incoming air flow, which avoids any turbulence prejudicial to the free air circulation. The curved shape permits to obtain over its full longitudinal cross-section passing through its axis, a longer peripheral area than in a conical version, and thus provides a high separation power while reducing the speed of passing through of the air, for a small size and an extremely low level of vibrations. Preferably, the ogival separator 20 includes, extending substantially parallel to its axis of rotation 8, a bend 20A topping the casing baffle plate 11, so as to constitute a baffle plate, and which can consist of a projection over the fins or bristles of the ogival separator 20 towards the downstream side, partially overlapping the casing baffle plate de carter 11.

As visible in FIG. 21, the ogival separator 20 is preferably made of one single part and includes, towards the front portion of the appliance, a plain cap 170. In order to avoid water from infiltrating, the separator 20 is comprised of alternating fins: internal fins 171 extending the cap and separated by spaces in which are intercalated peripheral fins 173 that form the main part of the ogival body. The internal fins 171 are each extended by a projecting portion 172, which causes a water extraction, and impedes water from infiltrating at the junction between the internal fins 171 and the peripheral fins 173.

The efficiency of this unique separation means permits the total separation of the liquid contained in the incoming gas flow. Its operation is inexpensive. It is thus avoided that several separators have to be mounted in series, which is always prejudicial at vibrational level.

One understands that any loss of pressure on the air flow is prejudicial to the output of the appliance on which it is installed. The extremely simple mounting of the separator 1 according to the invention, with a reduced number of components, as visible in FIG. 5, and without useless gas circulation, permits to limit the pressure losses to a strict minimum.

Though for an easy manufacture the axis of rotation 8 of the filtering means 19 is parallel to the flow in the area of the filtering means 19, their relative orientation can be different, without departing from the invention.

In a preferred version, the turbine 10, preferably made out of plastic material by molding, is fixed to a preferably metallic consolidation plate 14, which includes one single point 15 for fixing to the shaft 9 a motor forming the motorization means 7, and which permits a better strength at the level of the axis, and a resistance to deformation of the plastic due to the high centrifugal force exerted on the blades of the turbine.

Advantageously, the body of the separator 1 is molded, and the upstream conduit 2, the downstream conduit 4, the conveying means and the casing baffle plate 11 constitute a single-piece organ defining the aperture 13. The turbine 10 is movable in rotation in a chamber 160 in which the drawn-in air converges, downstream of the filtering means 19, which chamber is preferably part of the same molded single-piece organ. The chamber preferably includes channels for deviating the gas towards a peripheral end or bypass 5 radially connected to the downstream conduit 4, or by radial return to the upstream side by reversing the air thus rejected. Side outlets of the downstream conduit 4 and the convergence chamber C can also be inversed and permit in the same way the evacuation of the air towards the downstream side of the appliance. The downstream conduit 4 preferably communicates with large-surface or/and large-cross-section air outlets, for example hollow bodies 300 intercalated between a central body of the vacuum cleaner 100 and side plates the latter includes, in order to reduce as much as possible the sound emission, which is further reduced by sound-insulating elements or coatings in these hollow bodies 300. The molded design of the conveying means forming the body of the separator 1 has an economical advantage because of the simplification of the mounting, and a gain in weight and volume. Advantageously, the surfaces and the inner elements, the turbine or turbines, the walls of the various channels and chambers are covered with a sound-insulating coating or treatment.

The speed of rotation of the filtering means 19 is typically of more than 20,000 revolutions per minute and preferably close to 25,000 revolutions per minute.

According to a variant embodiment, at least one additional device 40 for separating the liquid-gas flow is contemplated downstream of the filtering means 19 in the separator 1, so as to perform a first separation, in particular of the particles, namely in the case of working in dry conditions or, in the event of using the separator according to the invention in a vacuum cleaner with water filtering, if the user omits to fill the bubbling chamber with water. Advantageously, such an additional separation device 40 includes a sieve or filter, namely a folded filter. This additional separation device can be mounted fixed, as visible in FIG. 5, or also movable in rotation about the axis of the ogival separator 20. This device 40 has preferably a general truncated shape. This shape, when the axis of the separator is vertical with the upstream conduit 2 in lower position, facilitates the self-cleaning of the sieve through run-off of the liquid : thus and under the action of the high-speed rotation, the sieve forming the device 40 is little or not at all clogged, and opposes only a very small pressure drop to the flow.

Also upstream, as visible in FIGS. 5 and 7, the separator 1 advantageously incorporates at least one pre-separator 41, in the form of a casing closed at the upstream side, except for an opening 42 communicating with at least one spire conferring to the gas flow loaded with liquid and particles a vortex or cyclonic motion towards the downstream side, before its drawing in. In the particular case of these FIGS. 5 and 7, the pre-separator 41 is upstream of the passing through the additional separation device 40 and of the passing into the ogival separator 20. This pre-separator 41 thus carries out a first taking along to the periphery of the liquid and the particles it contains. In a preferred version, this pre-separator 41 with a cyclonic effect orients them into a bubbling or contaminated-water tank 22. It can be used irrespective of the type of appliance. The use of several pre-separators 41 permits to generate a continuous or repeated, vertical or horizontal spiral effect.

The present description shows the case of a vacuum cleaner 100 with water filtering, in which the flow drawn in at the inlet nozzle 3 is oriented towards the bubbling tank 22 for its filtering with water. The separator 1, comprising an ogival separator 20, can be used for other variants of electrical household appliance, as can be seen in FIG. 9, in which the inlet nozzle 3 directly guides the drawn-in flow towards the ogival separator 20, eventually preceded by a pre-separator 41 or/and an additional separation device 40. In the example of FIG. 10, there is no bubbling tank, the tank 22 is a contaminated-water tank, which collects the liquid and the particles proceeding from the collecting area 21 between the casing baffle plate 11, the separator 1 and the casing carter 6 through a channel 119.

The liquid-gas separator according to the invention has many advantages. It does not clog, in contrast to the separators formed water-impervious porous filters. Its pressure drop is constant in the course of time, which means that the suction power of an electrical household appliance incorporating such a separator 1 remains constant in the course of time. Indeed, it permits to maintain a constant flow rate of gas, namely air, because the separator according to the invention is self-cleaning and can neither clog nor get dirty. Therefore, the user has no unpleasant maintenance to carry out. The efficiency of the liquid-gas separation is very good, which reduces the rejections of particles into the environment, and also impedes an excessive humidification of the surrounding atmosphere. This separator permits to design a simplified gas circuit, and its morphology permits to improve the compactness and to reduce the cost of the appliance in which it is mounted.

In the particular case of its use in a household appliance such as a vacuum cleaner 100, the separator 1 according to the invention has the advantage of permitting to form a removable filtering body adaptable between the body and the tubes of a traditional vacuum cleaner for particles, while permitting to eliminate the paper bag, the drawing in of liquids or also maintaining a constant air flow-rate. The use of the principle of filtering with water together with the use of a separator 1 according to the invention is advantageously suited for any type of household or cleaning appliance, namely with vapor.

Preferably, as visible in FIGS. 9 and 11, the vacuum cleaner 100 includes means for generating an air flow, namely in the form of motorization means 7 driving a turbine 10, and includes, in a casing 6, between an upstream conduit 2 and a downstream conduit 4, at least one such separator 1. This vacuum cleaner 100 is very compact, and includes a clean-liquid tank 30 supplied through a filling aperture 34 preferably provided with a filtering cartridge 33, for example a scale-preventive resin cartridge. This tank 30 is connected through a pump 31 to vapor-generating means 32, formed by at least one heating body 201 including at least one metal filament embedded in one or several elements exclusively made of ceramic-based materials and including at least a spray chamber. The latter is preferably formed by a helical space or the like between two bodies nested into each other, at least one of these nested bodies being a ceramic body including, embedded, such a metal filament.

The heating body 201 preferably includes at least one electric resistor 200, the features of which can be read in applications FR 06 10563 and PCT/FR2007/05 2423 of the same applicant and to which the present application refers. Namely, a heating means 419 is disclosed in the latter document. The latter can be used universally, either on smoothing irons, on household, cleaning appliances or the like, like the heating body 201 disclosed herein. The tubular shaped heating means 419 preferably includes, from the inside to the outside: first of all a central metal tube 421, eventually of stainless steel depending on the electric insulator used, in which the water to be spread circulates, either directly or through a device designed capable of maximizing its path and, hence, the contact surface, as a coil, a helical partitioning 442, or the like, applied against the wall of the tube 421. Such a guiding spiral avoids a too direct exit of the vapor flow. The alloys with high expansion index, as the aluminum alloys, are preferably avoided. The means 419 then includes an electric insulator chosen so as to also be the best possible heat conductor 422 or 425, and is designed capable of permitting to eliminate the earthing conductor in this type of heating body. Such an insulator can also be applied inside the tube 421. The means 419 then includes a heating resistor 423, namely comprised, in an inexpensive way, of an electric hose placed at the periphery of the insulator covering the tube 421 and connected to an electric circuit by means of two plugs. The thickness of the hose can be complemented with a heat-conducting ceramic, in order to improve the inertia of the whole, if necessary. Preferably, this resistor 423 is not sheathed, with a view to a volume as small as possible. The heating resistor 423 can have various configurations, for example wound into spires on the periphery of the heat-conductive electric insulator, or fold-over on the periphery of the tube 421. When the resistor 423 is coated with an electric insulator, the spires can be united. The tube 421 can include at least one groove, namely a helical groove, for accommodating the spires. At equal electric resistance value, the resistor 423 in spires, for the same length of the tube 421, can, compared to a straight resistor, have a much larger cross-section, it can also be better applied against the tube, hence an increased reliability. The means 419 finally includes an external heat insulator 424, advantageously also electric insulator, protecting the whole heating means 419. The material used is preferably a non-fibrous ceramic-based material with a high heat-insulation coefficient. Preferably, the heat-conductive electric insulator 422 or 425 is in the form of a single-piece material that can, for example, be a ceramic 422, or a food-grade porcelain or the like, or in the form of a thin layer 425 deposited on the surface of the central tube 421, for example an aluminum-oxide layer obtained by plasma projection. This deposit can also be obtained by low-temperature ceramization (500° C.) after dipping in a mixture of aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide, among others, this inexpensive solution also permits to obtain a perfect protection against oxidation of the metal tube 421, which can therefore be made of a non-stainless material, and with, in addition, a double electric insulation. This technique close to enameling, which can also be used, permits to prevent the fixing of scale, source for disorder of the electric safeties and efficiencies. It is also possible to coat the tube 421 with an aluminum-oxide and resin-based deposit. These materials are not restrictive, other types of applications and products can be contemplated when materials have to be used that have the property of being electrically insulating and heat-conductive or heat- and electrically insulating outside. A layer of insulator 422 or 425, such as alumina or also magnesium oxide, with a thickness of about 0.10 mm provides good results. Preferably, the insulator 425, applied on the tube 421, is a better heat-conductor than the insulator 422 used for protecting the heating resistor 424. This difference in heat conduction advantageously results from a clearly higher alumina proportion in the insulator 425 than in the insulator 422. The thickness of the tube 421 is calculated depending on the desired vapor flow-rate, on the electric power of the resistor, and on the inertia required for a permanent flow-rate. Other non-restrictive materials, such as magnesium oxide, dense alumina, boron nitride, silicon, can be used depending on the needs and the non-restrictive application means. The heat-conductive electric insulator in the form of a thin layer 425 has the advantage of reducing the size of the heating means 419 and permits a quicker heat diffusion to the central tube 421 in contact with the water. This application in a thin layer can be performed by plasma projection or by resin varnishing, or by dipping in a bath, or also by enameling, or any other known system. The heating unit is advantageously complemented with two end connectors 426 and 427, thicker at the outlet, in order to avoid pressure, permitting to nest the conductive pipes. The heating means 419, through its simplicity, is less expensive and lighter than the usual shielded resistors embedded in aluminum blocks.

This heating body 201 can be used alone in a large variety of applications, namely for household appliances and for cleaning, in particular for use as a heater: coffee machine or electric water boiler, or for a sole or/and boiler of a smoothing iron.

The heating body 201 is also improved as visible in FIGS. 14 and 22: it includes at least one filament 130 connected to the network by its ends 132 and 133. In the variant of FIG. 14, a core 131 serves as a support for at least one filament 130, this core 131 is embedded or enclosed in a ceramic body 134, which includes an inlet 138 for liquid, preferably water for generating vapor. In the variant of FIG. 22, the filament or filaments 130 are contained in a container made out of an insulating material, namely ceramic, namely an inner body or tube 301. The latter is enclosed in an internal body 302, preferably a metal body, and preferably made out of aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

In both variants, the filament 130 is preferably in the form of a shielded resistor, preferably formed of a resistor embedded in an insulating powder, in particular a ceramic powder, providing a first level of insulation, this powder being contained in a generally metallic tube. In the variant of FIG. 14, the body 134 is enclosed in a casing 137, and the liquid flows, preferably at the periphery of the body 134, in one or several channels 135 towards one or several outlet apertures 138A.

In the variant of FIG. 22, the internal body 302 is enclosed in a tight body 303, so as to provide between them one or several circulation channels 135 forming a liquid-spray chamber.

Preferably, in both variants such a channel 135 is spiral-shaped, or includes a succession of buckles, for example U-shaped, and preferable double U-shaped, so as to extend the path of the liquid in order to obtain at the outlet a fine vapor, in contrast to the usual simple heating tube that also ejects water under the action of the pressure of the already formed vapor.

In the variant of FIG. 14, the body 134 cooperates, at the level of an outer surface 134A, with an inner surface 137A a casing 137 includes. The latter is preferably a ceramic tube, which incorporates at least one resistor 140, namely wound into a spiral and embedded in the ceramic, and connected to the network by its ends 141 and 142. The body 134 and the casing 137 are assembled by complementary surfaces, respectively 143 and 143A, namely in the form of an external thread and an internal thread. The casing 137 includes an outlet aperture 139 for the vapor generated by the heating of the liquid introduced into the inlet 138, under the action of the filament or filaments 130 and of the resistor or resistors 140. The filament 130 or/and the resistor 140 can very advantageously adopt the form of a large developed length, for example helical length, or preferably, because less expensive, avec with a succession of simple or multi-stage U-shaped buckles forming a coil.

In the variant of FIG. 22, the inner body 302 cooperates with a tight body 303, preferably, the inner body 302 is contained in a cylinder, and the tight body 303 is a tube closely adjusted to this cylinder. The tight body 303 is preferably metallic, and preferably made of aluminum alloy or of stainless steel. The tight body 303 is, in turn, enclosed in an intermediate body 304 made of an insulating material and preferably of ceramic. The intermediate body 304 is preferably in the form of a tube. The intermediate body 304 is, in turn, enclosed in an outer casing 305, preferably a metal casing, and preferably made of aluminum alloy or of stainless steel. The latter outer casing 305 incorporates at least one resistor or one filament 140. The latter can advantageously consist of a resistor shielded according to the principle set forth above.

As regards the example of FIG. 22, the cooperation of the inner body 302 and the intermediate body 304 occurs, non-restrictively, by screwing, one of both including an external thread and the other one an internal thread, or vice-versa. The assembling can also occur through gluing. In a preferred embodiment of the variant of FIG. 22, the inner body 301 is a ceramic tube, the internal body 302 is made of aluminum alloy, the tight body 303 is made of stainless steel, so as to durably withstand the corrosion caused by the very calcareous water, and preferably to a revolution symmetry, the intermediate body 304 is made of ceramic and is preferably tubular, and the outer casing 305 is made of aluminum alloy.

In order to ensure a double tightness so as to comply with the double insulation standards, seals, not shown in FIG. 14, but visible in FIG. 22, in the preferred, but non-restrictive form of O-rings, respectively 306, are preferably used between the body 302 and the intermediate body 304 and at the end of the body 303, and 307 between the 302 and the intermediate body 304 at the end of the latter. One understands that this embodiment provides a full protection in double insulation and in double tightness of the heating body 201. Thus, the reliability is complete, and it is no longer necessary to use a grounding or earthing cable, which permits to reduce the weight, the size, the cost, and also to permit to put at the disposal of the user a much larger cable length than that of a usual appliance connected by three wires.

FIG. 23 shows a simplified and very inexpensive variant, in which the liquid flows between an inlet 138 and an outlet 139 in a body 303 forming a spray chamber 135, and preferably made of stainless steel, this body 303 being contained in, and cooperating with, an intermediate body 304 made of insulating material, namely made of ceramic, the latter being incorporated in an outer body 305, in particular made of aluminum alloy, which encloses in turn at least one sheathed resistor or filament 140.

One understands that the sheathing by means of metallic bodies permits to prevent the thermal shocks, in particular using aluminum alloys, and to thus preserve the parts made of ceramic. And, even in the event of breakage, the ceramic is maintained, and the double tightness fully protects the user.

Preferably, the total power of the resistor or resistors 140 is between 3 and 4 times those of the filament or filaments 130, for example respectively 1500 W and 500 W, for an electric resistor 200 with a length from 10 to 15 cm. The filament 130 can be arranged in the form of a spiral on the core 131, with, in this case, a larger diameter. In both cases, a total power of 2000 W can be obtained for of length in the range of 10 to 11 cm, and a diameter of about 5 cm. The casing 137 is also advantageously insulated on its outer surface with a fiber or ceramic insulator, or the like, retained by a retaining casing, for example made of plastic. This design is not limited to the tubular shape, and such vapor-generating means 32 can be used, irrespective of the implanting geometry, for any kind of heater, namely with outer or inner sheathing in order to withstand the pressure.

FIG. 19 shows a variant according to the same principle, between two ceramic bodies incorporating resistors 140, a preferably spiral labyrinth 155 is used for heating or spraying water, in an extremely compact volume.

The large variety of possible shapes for the resistor 200 permits that the latter advantageously replaces the heating bodies of electric water boilers and coffee-machines, and permits its coupling to a plastic or ceramic vessel to form a boiler. Such a boiler is particularly inexpensive and performing.

When using such an electric resistor 200 made entirely of ceramic, the insulation in class 2 is ensured and it is not necessary to carry out an earthing. This permits to use a supply cord with only two wires, which makes possible its accommodation either on a reel 53 located in the appliance 100, for example in a clean-liquid tank 30, or between a side plate 22 or 30 and a central casing 6, or on a reel or a winding support 54 at the periphery, namely of the base, for example between the feet or castors 55 this appliance 100 includes. The use of small-size automatic electric cable reels becomes thus possible for all types of vapor vacuum cleaners.

The vapor produced by the means 32 is preferably brought to a cleaning utensil, such as a squeegie or the like, fixed to an inlet nozzle 3 of the upstream conduit 2.

Preferably, this appliance 100 includes two side plates, one formed by a clean-liquid tank 30, the other one by a bubbling tank 22, whereby one of both of them can contain a recess for the reel 53. This clean-liquid tank 30 advantageously incorporates a scale-preventive cartridge, namely a resin cartridge.

These side plates are united, on the side of a service nozzle 3 on the upstream conduit 2, by one or several casing elements 6, referred to as front elements, including namely the vapor-generator means 32 and the pump 31. The portion of the appliance 100, referred to as upper portion, downstream of the nozzle 3 and the upstream conduit 2, incorporates the separator 1 and the motorization means 7. Between the separator 1, on the one hand, and the side plates 22 and 30, on the other hand, are advantageously arranged air outlet channels 300 with the largest possible surface, on a wide periphery of the appliance, the side plates 30 and 22 serving as sound insulator for a double-shell effect. Below this upper portion is arranged a control handle 50, at the level of which is located the center of gravity 51 of the appliance 100 loaded with liquid. The operator's hand is thus inserted, at the level of a rear opening 56, like into a glove, between the side plates and the upper portion, it is protected against any aggression by the front portion of the casing 6. The appliance 100 is capable of operating in all positions in space thanks to the baffle plates of the casing 21. The operator handles it in all these positions, without any particular fatigue, since he holds it at the level of its center of gravity.

Preferably, through the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the invention passes a cooling-air circuit. An outside-air inlet 200 is arranged preferably proximate the handle 50, and can include a baffle plate 201 eventually provided with an air filter. A conduit brings this fresh air into a chamber 202 located at an end of the motorization means 7 of the turbine 10. Advantageously, these means 7 are fixed to a partition separating this chamber 202 from another chamber 203 in which the other end of the motorization means 7 is located. Through the latter passes the flow of fresh air, from the chamber 202 to the chamber 203, the air of which exits through an aperture 204 in a conduit 205, which guides it into a chamber 206 surrounding the vapor-generating means 32, to the cooling of which it thus contributes, before it exits the appliance through at least one outlet mouth 207. The latter advantageously communicates with outlet channels for the air drawn in downstream of the downstream chamber 4, made in the form of chambers located between the central body comprising the handle 50 and the side plates. These arrangements ensure a better comfort for the operator, and preserve the shell, ensuring a good ageing. The cooling air is advantageously mixed with the air proceeding from the downstream conduit 4, and then benefits from its dynamics by venturi effect.

In an advantageous variant, the circulation of the drawn-in extracts, through venturi effect, at the level of an extraction channel, the air present in the area surrounding the suction motor, and thus creates a cooling-air flow, without requiring any moving organ such as a helix or the like, making therefore the manufacture less expensive.

In brief, according to the invention, three types of air outlets, referred to as by-pass, can preferably be used:

-   -   lateral outlet through the front portion of the appliance, i.e.         on the side of the inlet nozzle 3, with double side plate;

lateral outlet through the rear portion of the appliance, i.e. on the side opposite the inlet nozzle 3, in the upper portion or on the side, with eventual omission of a part of the tank, with double side plate ;

peripheral outlet towards the rear of the appliance and in the upper portion with a tightness casing of the motor.

The cooling air is advantageously evacuated through the handle 50 of the appliance.

A particularly interesting embodiment of such an appliance 100 is a vapor window-squeegie with suction device, having a mass when empty of about 1.5 kg, for a clean-liquid tank 30 and a bubbling tank 22 of about 500 ml each, and for which an installed power of 400 W, or even 200 W, is enough to carry out a quality cleaning, without fatigue for the operator. On such an appliance, a turbine 10 with a diameter of 76 mm, and an ogival separator 20 with a diameter of 52 mm, for example, permit an air flow-rate between 15 and 20 liters per second, compatible with a good suction and separation efficiency.

In the case of a simple vacuum cleaner for dust without vapor production, the inlet of the appliance can be provided with a tube, in order to convey by venturi effect a liquid proceeding from a clean or slightly contaminated liquid tank, in order to humidify this dust, and to then separate them by the various separation means set forth above.

The invention also relates to a smoothing iron including at least one heating body 201 for generating vapor or/and heating the sole. 

1. Vacuum cleaner comprising: a casing, wherein an aspirated air flow loaded with particles or/and liquid circulates within said casing, said casing extending between an inlet nozzle and an aperture communicating with a suction chamber; and a water-air separator being motorized and intercalated between an upstream conduit and suction means, the separator orienting a gas phase into said suction chamber and a liquid phase and the particles into at least one tank, said liquid phase being kept in the tank.
 2. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising: a bubbling tank for the water filtering of said flow, wherein the drawn-in flow circulates, between said inlet nozzle and said communication aperture at the level of an upstream conduit, upstream of suction means comprising a turbine, wherein said bubbling tank is comprised of at least one peripheral stream with a substantially annular shape performing a centrifugation of said flow.
 3. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said peripheral stream guides said flow towards an area in which partitions separated from each other create a venturi effect.
 4. Vacuum cleaner claim 1, wherein said liquid-gas separator comprises, between said upstream conduit and a downstream conduit connected by a communication aperture, mounted movable in rotation about an axis of rotation inside said upstream conduit, a gas-pervious filtering means conveying collected liquid to a periphery thereof by centrifugation, said filtering means forming means for closing said communication aperture on the side of the latter located towards said upstream conduit.
 5. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said filtering means comprises an ogival separator, provided with radial fins or/and brushes, fixed to a turbine movable in rotation downstream of said communication aperture and which it communicates with through the latter.
 6. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said turbine comprises, on its upstream side, on the side of said upstream conduit, a turbine baffle plate to which said ogival separator is fixed, and wherein said turbine baffle plate comprises an axial communication aperture between said upstream conduit and said downstream conduit, wherein said suction chamber comprises a casing baffle plate forming a partition between said upstream conduit and said downstream conduit and being comprised of an axial opening with a diameter smaller than the largest diameter of said ogival separator, forming a liquid-collecting area communicating, through said aperture, with said bubbling tank.
 7. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said ogival separator is formed of one single piece and is comprised of, towards the front portion of the appliance, a plain cap and alternating inner fins extending said cap separated by spaces in which are intercalated peripheral fins that form an ogival body, said inner fins being each extended by a projecting portion for extracting water, and impeding the infiltration of water at the junction between said inner fins and peripheral fins.
 8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said separator comprises at least one pre-separator in the form of a casing closed on the upstream side, except for an opening communicating with at least one spire conferring to the gas flow loaded with liquid and particles a vortex or cyclonic motion towards the downstream side, before its drawing-in, to thus carry out a first peripheral driving of the liquid and the particles contained in this flow, and which it orients into a bubbling or contaminated-water tank.
 9. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising: vapor-generating means being comprised of a clean-liquid tank connected by a pump to vapor-generating means that include at least one heating body including, each heating body comprising at least one metallic or one sheathed resistor embedded in one or several elements including at least one ceramic-based insulating material, said heating body comprising at least one spray chamber.
 10. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said filament is contained in a tubular inner body made out of ceramic, which is enclosed in an inner metallic body, which is enclosed in a tight body, so as to arrange between them at least one circulation channel forming a liquid-spray chamber, this tight body being in turn enclosed in an intermediate body made of ceramic enclosed, in turn, in an outer metal casing incorporating at least one resistor or one filament.
 11. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein said heating body comprises at least one seal between the body and the intermediate body and at the end of the body, and another seal between the body and the intermediate body at the end of the latter.
 12. Vacuum cleaner according to 9, wherein said spray chamber is formed by a helical space between two bodies or casings nested into each other, at least one of these nested bodies or casings being a ceramic body incorporating, embedded, such metallic filament or sheathed resistor.
 13. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said heating body comprises at least one electric resistor being comprised of a core serving as a support for at least one filament, said core embedded in a ceramic body, said core comprising an inlet for liquid circulating in at least one channel from a spray chamber towards at least one outlet aperture, said body cooperating, at the level of an outer surface, with an inner surface of a ceramic casing, wherein said ceramic casing incorporates at least one resistor and comprises an outlet aperture for the vapor generated by the heating of the liquid introduced in said inlet, under the action of the filament and the resistor.
 14. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, further comprising: a stainless steel body forming a spray chamber in which liquid circulates between an inlet and an outlet, the body being contained in, and cooperating with, an intermediate ceramic body, the latter being incorporated in an external body comprised of aluminum alloy, which encloses, in turn, at least one shielded resistor or one filament.
 15. Heating body being incorporated in a household or cleaning appliance, or in a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, comprising: at least one metallic filament or one sheathed resistor embedded in one or several elements exclusively made out of ceramic-based materials, and at least one spray chamber, which is formed by a helical space or the like between two bodies or casings nested into each other, at least one of these nested bodies or casings being a ceramic body incorporating, embedded, such a metallic filament.
 16. Heating body according to claim 15, further comprising: at least one electric resistor with a core serving as a support for at least one filament, said core being embedded in a ceramic body, said core having an inlet for a liquid circulating in at least one channel towards at least one outlet aperture, said body cooperating, at the level of an outer surface, with an inner surface of a ceramic casing, said ceramic casing incorporating at least one resistor and comprising an outlet aperture for the vapor generated by the heating of the liquid introduced in said inlet, under the action of the filament and the resistor. 